Thimble for shoe-lasts.



Patented luly 3U, |901. J. E. SCOTT.

UN TTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN E. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

THlMBLE FOR SHOE-LASTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 679,515, dated July 30, 1901.

Application filed November 30, 1898. Serial No. 697,895. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN E. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of PhiladelphiaJ and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thimbles for Shoe- Lasts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in thimbles or linings for the spindlesockets of shoe-lasts; and the object of the invention is to provide a strong and durable thimble which can be quickly and firmly secured in such a socket.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a shoe-last having my improved thimble applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the thimble. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional views.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Adesignates alast, and B the socket formed therein to receive the spindle on which the last is supported when in use in the ordinary manner.

C designates my improved thimble or lining, it being formed from a metal tube of the proper diameter and length to fit snugly in the socket B and to extend throughout the length thereof. For the purpose of retaining the thimble or lining C in place in the spindle-socket it is provided with a series of integral prongs adapted to be forced into the body of the last. In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated there are provided four of these spurs or holding-prongs, two of them, c c, being arranged at the lower end and extending longitudinally of the thimble and the other two, c c', being arranged at diametrioally opposite points about midway of the length of the thimble and adapted to be projected transversely of the thimble into engagement with the last. These last said spurs or prongs c c are stamped out or struck up from the body of the thimble and are preferably of the form shown in Fig. 4r

that is, they have a shank or stem provided with substantially parallel longitudinal sides terminating in a V-shaped point-while the spurs c c at the lower end of the thimble are substantially triangular in form. The shanks or stems of the lateral spurs or prongs c' c' are initially bent inwardly to extend into the bore or passage in the thimble and so as to bring the points of such spurs within the side lines of the thimble, and thus offer 'no obstruction or hindrance to the insertion of the thimble into the socket B. After the thimble has been inserted in said socket and forced downward until the prongs c c thereof have been embedded in the bottom of the socket a suitable rod or tool is inserted in the bore of the thimble, and thereby the points of the spurs or prongs c' c' are forced laterally beyond the thimble and embedded in the side Walls of the socket B. The thimble C is also provided at its upper end with an integral annuiar flange D, which at diametrically opposite points is extended to form ears or lugs d d. When the thimble is properly placed in position in the socket, this iange D and the ears d d thereof bear close against the surface of the last about the open end of the socket B and protect such surface from the wear caused by the vibration of the last on the spindle when in use.

In forming the thimble or lining herein described I take a section of tubing of the proper diameter and length and after cutting one end of the same to provide the spurs c c and stamping out fthe lateral prongs c c form slits or cuts in the end of the tube opposite the spurs c o, so that when said end is upset the dange D and the ears (l d will be formed and related as shown.

I am aware that prior to my invention it had been proposed to provide the spindlesocket of a last with a cast-metal thimble having an integral laterally-projecting rim or flange at its upper end that served to cover more or less of the surface of the last about said socket; but it will be readily apparent that such a thimble as I have invented and have above described differs materially from and has many advantages over such devices as those last referred to.

My improved thimble is, as aforesaid,

formed from a section of tubing, which makesV rious makes of' lasts andl 'can be applied by If there is an` unevenness in the any party. contact between the said flange and the lastsu rface,the blows or im pacts received by said flange when the last; is in use will quickly hreaksaid flange, if of cast metal, at thoseV places where it is not in contact with the lastbod'y, andthe same result will follow if at the time of applying the thimble the operator endeavors by hammering to cause the cast flange to bear against the last throughout itsl lengthand breadth, as is necessary, for the reasons above stated. Vith a thimble made from a section of light tubing, however, and havingthe flange formed `by bending one en-d thereof outwardly it will be seen that such flange can be eas-ily'shaped to conform accurately to the surface of any last. Itis to be understood that it is proposed to manufacture andl sell these thimbles separate froml av last, and therefore this capability by which any ow-ner of a last can easilyffit athimble the-reto and have it properly positioned and related is of great importance. The flange which I prov-ide being, as described, made iny two-sections can `be easily made to conform tothesur-face of the particular last about the spindle-socket.

plate, asin my earlier construction, and that thellange D of the present improvement more completely protects the upper surface of the last, it extending entirely around such socket 2 instead of merelyl beyond two sides thereof. g Again, I arrange the lateral spurs or prongs c c at diametrically opposite points instead l of having such spurs at one sideonly of the thimble.

I do not claim in this application any of the features of novelty incident to both that embodiment of my invention disclosed by my said earlier application and that presented herein, preferring to present such claims in said application Serial No. 680,274 and to presenty in this application only claims for the novel features of the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated.

What I claim is- 1., A thimbleor lining for the spindle-socket of a shoe-last having at intermediate points in its length, and at diametrically opposite points, integral spurs or prongs the stems of ywhich are adapted to extend into the bore of the thimble when it is being inserted in a ,socket to h old' the pointsof saidspurs inside gof the outer face or surface of the thimble, ,substantially as set forth.

2. Athimbleorliningforthespindle-socket :of a shoe-last comprising a tube havingat one lend longitndinallyextending spurs, c, c, adapted to engage the bottom of a socket, and `having its other end upset to form an annu- Al'ar flange about the upper end of the thimble to protect the surface of the last surrounding the socket from wear, substantially as set lforth., ,Y

3. A thimble or lining for the spindle-socket .lof a last comprising a section of thinv metal tubing which is provided with integral spurs ljfor securing it to a last, and which has two 1outwardly-bent members which with the up- -set portion of the tube form an annular flange 4about the upper end ofthe thimble, substanitially as andv for the purpose set forth.

4. A thirnlole or lining for the spindle-socket of a last comprising a section of light metal tubing having at its upper end a flangeadapted to conform accurately to the top surface lof a last about the spindle-socket, a-nd hav-v l ing in itstubular body portion spurs adapted i to engage with the last surrounding the spinjdle-socket, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature fin presence of two witnesses.

JOIIN E. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

J osEP-H R. EDsoN,

HERBERT D. LAWSON.

IOO 

